Apparatus for manufacturing sugar-wafers or the like.



No. 66|,729. PatentedNov. l3, I900. G. S. BAKER.

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING SUGAR WAFERS OR THE LIKE.

7 (Application filed Mar. 21, 1899.) (No Model.)

6 Sheets-Sheet I.

THE nonms prrzns $0., PKOYOLITHQ. WASHINGTON. n. c.

Patented Nov. l3, I900.

4 I a. s. BAKER. -APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING SUGAR WAFERS OR THE LIKE.

(Application filed Mar. 21, 1899.)

6 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

THE Nonms PETERS 00.. PHoraurnu. usnmmos, n. c.

"N0. 66l,729. Pa'tented Nov. l3, I900. G. S. BAKER.

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING SUGAR WAFERS OR THE LIKE.

- (Application filed. Mar. 21. 1899.) I (No Model.) 6 SheetsSheet 3 m: norms PETERS c0, Pnorauruq, wAsnmuTomp. c.

No. 66L729- Patented Nov. I3, I900. G. S. BAKER.

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING SUGAR WAFEBS OR THE LIKE.

(Annlication filed Mar. 21, 1899.)

(No Model.) .6 S haetsSheet'4.

.m: Moms PETERS co. momurno W ASHINGTON D. c.

Patented Nov. I3, I906.

a; s. BAKER. APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING SUGAR WAFERS OR THE LIKE.

(Application filed Kaza- 21, 1899.)

6 Sheets-Sheet 5.

(no Model.)

FIG.7.

m: scams Pzrzns on, PNOTO-LITHO., WASHINGTON. n. c.

Patented Nov. 13, I900. G. S. BAKER.

(Application filed Mar. 21, 1899.)

' 6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

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APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING SUGAR WAFERS OR THE LIKE;

(mi Modei.)

N TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE SAMUEL BAKER, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

APPARATUS FOR MANUFACTURING SUGAR-WAFERS OR THE LIKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 661,729, dated November 13, 1900.

Appliuatinn filed March 21, 1899 serial No- 709.947. tliio model.)

To (LZZ- whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE SAMUEL BAKER, a subject of the Queen of England, residing at London, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for the Manufacture of Sugar-WV-afers or the Like, (for which I have made application in Great Britain underNo. 20,043, dated September 20, 1898,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for the manufacture of sugar-wafers and similar confections in which an endless chain carryinga series of pairs of plates or tongs upon which the wafers are baked is mechanically fed through a gas-oven or other heater or in which the plates of a series radial to a central spindle around which they travel are individually rotatable abouttheir own axes. The object of the present invention is to make such machines more automatic andto enable them to operate with a much smaller waste or scrap of batter than in such machines as hitherto usually constructed.

According to this invention an automatic filler or feeding device is provided for the plates and also an automatic cutting-off device forgetting rid of the fringe of baked batter w ich hangs from the meeting edges of each pair of plates. .The cutting-off device may com prise k nives provided on all the sides of one plate in each pair and capable of being operated at the desired intervals by a cam or other mechanism controlled by some projection on the frame relatively to which the chain or series of plates has motion. These knives, or strips employed in place of the knives, may be operated in passing a stationary projection to form a head or edging for each plate while the fresh batter is being delivered onto it and immediately thereafter, so as to enable the batter to level itself upon the plate, filling the corners, and being kept from flowing freely over the edges and subsequently producing waste or scrap. As an alternative to these movable raised edges one of each pairof plates may have apermanent head or edging of such height that no clearance, or onlya very small clearance, remains between each pair of plates when they are brought together instead of the excessive clearance which has been provided heretofore. A convenient construction of automatic filler or feeding device according to this invention is a pump communicating with a batter-supply reservoir and having a piston operated at the desired intervals by a cam or otherwise in such a manner that the requisite quantity of batter is forced from the pump through a feed-nozzle onto the surface of a plate beneath the latter. The cam may be arranged to so operate the piston that the speed at which the batter is delivered on certain portions of the plate may be varied. The device above referred to for discharging the batter onto the plate should not begin the delivery of batter too soon or complete its delivery until just before the plates of each pair are closed or brought face to face. The

delivery device may be connected with the cylinder whence it derives its supply by flexible connections and be arranged to be caught by the traveling plate and moved along in company with it against the action of a spring or other quick-return device. The batter may be delivered not only during the move ment of the delivery device in company with the traveling plate, but also while it moves rearwardly over the plate to its normal position of rest or during such rearward move ment alone. i

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate one method of constructing a machine according to this invention, Figure l is a side elevation of a complete machine. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the same. Figs. 4 and 5 show in elevation and plan, respectively, details of the automatic feed device. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views in elevation and plan, respectively, of the automatic trimming device. Fig. 8 is a vertical section on'the line 8 8 of Fig. '7. Fig. 9 is aside elevation of the alternative construct-ion of battendelivering device. Fig. 10 is an end elevation of the same. Fig. 11 is a plan of a triple-delivery nozzle forming part of such device, and Fig. 12 is a section through one of the nozzles.

Like letters indicatelike parts throughout the accompanying drawings. t

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 3, the main frame A of the machine has mounted upon it at one end the driving mechanism, comprising fast and loose pulleys B, operativelyconnected with a train of gear-wheels G. Tongs or plates D, comprising each a lower plate having hinged to it a lid or upper plate, are connected by links E, so that they form a chain which is made to travel around a frame A by means of the driving mechanism B. C. To enable the chain to travel freely over the frame A, flanged wheels E are provided at the ends of axles D' D The axles DD carry the tongs D and also the connectinglinks E, so that the whole weight of the chain falls upon the flanged wheels E, which as the chain travels roll upon the frame A. The chain carries the tongs D through an oven F, heated by gas or other means and hasing a top plate F and tlue F Guide-rods D D carried by supports D engage the lids or upper plates of the traveling tongs D as they approach in such a manner that the lids are raised upon their hingesd and again lowered while their corresponding lower plates pass under the guide-rods. Beforethe lid is again lowered the bottom plate of thetongs D is automatically charged with batter. To effect this operation, a cylinder G is mounted on a bracket G, supported by the frame A, and communicates with a batter-supply reservoir (not shown in the drawings) by a pipe 9 and with a feed-nozzle G by a pipe g. A piston having a rod G is mounted within the cylinder G and is normally held at the bottom of the same by a spring g which bears at one end against a collar g on the piston-rod and at the other against the head of the cylinder G. On the axle D of each pair of tongs D is mounted a cam l-I, Figs. 1 to 5, which as it is carried forward by the traveling tongs D is broughtinto contact with the end of the piston-rod G The end of the piston-rod G is furnished wit h a friction-roller g so that it is freely raised by the approaching cam and by means of its piston forces a quantity of batter through the pipe g. and feed-nozzle G onto the lower plate of the tongs D. The feed-nozzle G comprises a main pipe attached at one end to the feed-pipe g and closed at the other. This main pipe is supported so as to project over the lower plate of the traveling t-ongs'D by a carrier or bracket H, Fig. 3, and is provided with a number of small nozzles 9 by which the batter makes its exit onto the plate of the tongs. The carrier or bracket H may be either fixed to the main frame A, so that the feed-nozzle G is held stationary while it delivers the batter onto the traveling plates, or it may be made'to travel with each plate while delivering batter and may also be re turned in the opposite direction to that of the travel of the plates during the time of delivery by means of any convenient quick-return device. In the latter cases the connection g between the cylinder G and the feed-nozzle G is made of flexible pipe or tube, and the bracket H is carried by a guide H upon which it is free to slide in a 'line parallel to that traversed by the tongs D. The guide H is secured at one end to the face of the cylinder G, and at the other is supported bracket H secured to the frame A.

On the axle D of each of the pairs of tongs D is mounted a bell-crank lever forming part of the gear employed in moving the feed-nozzle, as hereinafter explained. It is pivoted at J (see Figs. 4 and 5) and has arms J J The end of the arm J is provided with a friction-roller J and a spring J keeps the arm normally raised, the arm J acting against the axle D as a stop, Fig. 4.

The carrier or bracket H carries an inclined cam-plate H provided at one end with a recess h, Fig. 4, and below and forward of the inclined cam-plate H is a second inclined cam H fixed to any convenient part of the frame A A. The inclined cams H H are by a disposed in the same vertical plane as the series of bell-cranks J J and operate with the same, as hereinafter described.

The carrier H, carrying the feed device G and theinclined cam H, has attachedaspring or a weight K, Figs. 1, 2, and 3, which always tends to keep it at one end of the guide-rod H The trimming device, Figs. 6 to 8, for each pair of tongs D comprises four blades or knives L, which may be connected together at their corners, as shown in Fig. 7, so that they form one rectangular blade. The blades or knives L normally remain below the joint of the two plates or tongs D, but may be raised and made to pass over the joint at stated intervals by means of the eccentrics L and operating-rods L The eccentrics L are mounted on a shaft carried beneath the lower plate of the tongs D and work within the frames Z of the levers L The levers L are arranged in pairs, each pair being connected to opposite ends of the rectangular knife-band L, formed by connecting together theseparate blades or knives L, as suggested above. A fulcrum is provided for the levers L by hinging their otherwise free ends to the bottom of the lower plate D by links Z. On the shaft upon which the eccentrics L are carried is a gear-wheel L and on the frame A is fixed a rack L Figs. 1 and 3. As the tongs D pass over the rack L the wheel L engages with the rack L which, being provided with the same number of teeth as the wheel L imparts one revolution to the same, and the eccentrics Lbeing carried around with the wheel L raise and lower the knives L once. The frame A is provided with a second rack L having half the number of teeth carried by rack L so that as the Wheel L is carried over it the wheel receives half a revolution. The knives L are thus raised by the eccentrics L and remain in this position until a third rack L also carried by the frame A, is passed over, which imparts a second half-revolution to the wheel L causing the blades or knives L to be brought back to their normal position.

The upper plates of the tongs D upon being lowered from the guide-rods D onto the IIO bottom or lower plates are locked by a catchpiece M, Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 5, which passes through a projection M in the lid or upper plate and on receiving a quarter of a revolution locks the upper and lower plates D together. The quarter-revolution is imparted to the catch-piece M by a star-wheel M attached to the lower end of the same. The star-wheel M in passing a pin M conveniently mounted on the frame A, is brought into engagement with the same and is-thus made to revolve a quarter of a turn. A similar pin M unlocks the plates just before the upper plate enters the guide-rods D The operation of the machine is as follows: As the lower plate D approaches a point heneath the feed-nozzle G2 the end of the arm J of the bell-crank lever J J with its friction-roller J strikes against the recessed end h of the cam H and causes the carrier H, to which it is attached, to travel forward on the guide H against the action of the weight K. The carrier H carries with it the feed-nozzle G the nozzles g of which are kept directly over the forward end of the lower plate of the tongs D. This forward movement of the carrier H and its attached parts is continued until the arm J of the bell-crank lever J J strikes against the end of the lower inclined cam H when the forward movement being continued the arm J is forced down in opposition to the resistance offered by its spring J and released from its engagement with the recessed end 72 of the inclined cam H At this movement the cam H on the axle D of the adjacent tongs commences to operate the piston G and to force batter from the cylinder G through the pipe g and feed-nozzle G onto the lower plate of the tongs D. While the batter is being thus delivered, the bracket. H, which carries the feed-nozzle G is re turning to its normal position under the influence of the weight K, its speed of return being regulated by the arm J of the bellcrank J J which the inclined cam H has to force down as it returns against the action of the spring J The inclined cam H is assisted in forcing down the arm J of the bell-crank J J by the fixed inclined cam H, which as the bell-crank travels forward with the tongs D forces up the arm J, and thus lends its aid to depress the arm J should the inclined plane 1-1 have difficulty in doing so. From the above it will be obvious that by adjusting the angles of the inclined cams H 11 relatively to one another, and particularly by adjusting the strength of the spring J, the speed at which the feed-nozzle G is returned may be regulated. A convenient ratio for the relative speeds of opposite movement of the tongs D and feed-nozzle G2 is found to be that of one to four. The rate of discharge of batter may be regulated by the proportions of the cam H and cylinder Gr. Also the camH may be so constructed as to vary the speed at which the batter is delivered upon different portions of the plate D. Just before the feednozzle G reaches the end of the plate D the cam H passes from under the piston-rod G which is immediately returned to its normal position by the spring g and the discharge of batter ceases. As the tongs continue their forward motion the lid or upper plate. D is lowered from the guide-rods D and closed down upon the lower plate D and the two plates locked together, as above described. The tongs D are then passed through the oven F and no other mechanical operation takes place until they arrive at the rack L As they pass over the rack L the knives L are raised and lowered,as hereinbefore described, and the knives by thus passing over the joint ofthe platesD remove any scrap or baked batter which may protrude from between the same. The tongs D in passing the pin M are unlocked and the lid or upper plate engaging with the guiden-ods D is raised upon its hinges d. When the tongs arrive at the top of the machine, the baked batter or wafer is removed and the plates pass on toward the feed-nozzle G rack L the knives L are again raised,as before described, and remain in this position while the plate D is being charged with batter from the feed-nozzle G The batter having had time to spread, the tongs D arrive over the third rack L when the knives or blades L are again lowered to their normal position. The lid or upper plate is then lowered and locked as before and the same cycle of operations repeated.

Attention is directed to the double purpose to which the knives or blades L are appliedviz., trimming off the scrap batter and acting as a head to the lower plate of the tongs D while the same is charged with batter.

In the alternative construction of batterdelivery device illustrated in Figs. 9 to 12 a pump-cylinder is arranged to move to and fro in slides or upon guide-rods and to accompany eaeh pair of tongs for a portion of their travel and then to be quickly returned to the starting-point. Upon the pump-cylinder approaching the end of a forward movement the pump piston and cylinder are caused to move relatively with one another to expel the charge of batter contained in the cylinder. The rearward or return movement of the pump-cylinder along the guide-rods is performed by mechanism hereinafter described, and when approaching the completion of this return movement relative motion between the piston and pump-cylinder again takes place, causing suction, which fills the cylinder with batter from a reservoir. The pump is now ready to perform an outward movement in company with the next pair of tongs to be charged. Upon the extremities of the rear axletrees D of the tongs D are mounted projecting pieces D with teeth D formed upon them, for a purpose hereinafter described. Two brackets G are secured upon the framing A of the machine, and supported between them are guide-rods G. The pump- As they pass over the second- ICO J is capable of being moved up and down in cylinder G may be provided with tubular extensions or attachments G which slide freely over the guide-rods G The piston of the pump is secured at a point distant from either end of the piston-rod which passes through both covers of the pump-cylinder G. A stuff-.

vment of the pump-cylinder G is continued.

By this means the pump-cylinder G on nearing the completion of its forward travel will be moved relatively with the piston to effect the ejection of the batter, and upon nearing the completion of the rearward travel the cy'linder will again be moved relatively with the piston to efiect suction of the batter from a reservoir through the port B. An adjustable screw-stop G may be employed to vary the piston-stroke. The forward movement of the cylinder G upon the guiderods is obtained by a projection D upon one of the axles D coming into contact with the depending block J upon the cylinder. The depending block a slide J upon the pump-cylinderG by means of pins J coming into contact with inclines J formed upon the said block J. The pins J inwardly project from an extension A of the framing, which is broken away at J, Fig. 9. The inclines and pins are disposed so that at any moment the upper pair shall not be foul of the lower incline nor the lower pin be foul ofthe upper incline. A bladespring may be adapted to bear against the rear of the sliding block, so that after it has been raised by the upper pin it is retained in such raised position by the pressure exerted by the spring in order that it may clear the upper pin and also the projecting piece and teeth upon the return movement of the pumpcylinder. Upon the pump nearing the completion of the return movement the block J is moved down by the engagement of the other pin with the lower incline into the path of the succeeding projection D The pump-cylinder G requires to be-moved rearwardly in a short space of time in order that the upper plate of the tongs D, which is brought down as quickly as possible after the charge of batter has been deposited upon the lower plate, shall not foul the discharge-pipe. To accomplish this,a lever K, pivoted to the frame A, is provided upon its boss K with a projection K and teeth K (shown in dotted lines,) which correspond to and are engaged by the projections D and teeth D upon the axles D As the axles move forward a small rotative movement of the boss is obtained, causing the outer end of the lever to move through an arc and to effect, by means of a suitable connecting-rod K (broken at K Fig. 9, its continuation and connection at the cylinder being shown in dotted lines,) the quick-return movement of the pump-cylinders. The discharge-pipe G connected at one end to a port in thepump-cylinder, is provided 'at the other end witha number of branches carrying nozzles G three only of such branches being shown in Fig. 11. In order to prevent drip after the discharge has taken place, valves G which can be hollowed below, as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 12, may be placed in the nozzles G The valves (best seen in Fig. 12) have stems G around which are placed spiral springs G When the valves open, the springs G exert pressure between sockets, G supported by webs in the nozzles, and the nuts and washers upon the ends of the stems. The valves by these means are again seated immediately the discharge of batter ceases. Other modes of preventing drip may be employed. The operation of this batter-delivering device is as follows: The pump-cylinder G is moved along the guide-rods G to the position shown in Fig. 9 by the engagement of one of the projections D upon the traveling axles with the depending block'J. In the position shown in the figure the end of the piston G has been brought against the bracket-stop G, and the cylinder continuing its travel moves in relation to the piston, which will eject the batter through the discharge-pipe G and nozzles G The upper incline upon the block J is now brought in contact with the upper pin J which raises the block out of engagement with the projection D on the axle. At this instant the projection K upon the lever K is engaged by another of the projections D and causes rotative movement of the boss K of the lever, the movement being continued by the engagement of the teeth D upon the axle D with the teeth K upon the boss of the lever. It will thus be seen that a small movement of the boss K causes the end of the lever to move through a large arc. This movement communicated to the cylinder quickly returns it along the guide-rods, so

that the plate D,which is being rapidly closed, I

does not foul the discharge-pipe carried by the cylinder. As the cylinder nears the end of the return movement the end G of the piston-rod comes against the adjustable stop G and the cylinder completing its length of travel again moves in relation to the piston, thereby performing the suction-stroke, which draws in from the reservoir through the port R a charge of batter for the next pair of tongs. During the return movement also the descent of the contact-block J is effected by the lower incline coming into contact with the rear pin. The said block J will now be in the path of the succeeding projection D by which it is to be carried forward.

I I claim- 1. In a wafer-making machine the combination of traveling tongs, a trimming device acting also as -a bead carried'by the tongs, means for operating such trimming eeifiae 5 device, an automatic batter feeding device, and cams or projections moving with the tongs and operating thefeeding device.

2. In a wafer-making machine, the combination with traveling tongs, of an automatic batter-feeding device and cams or projections moving with the tongs and operating the feeding device.

3. In a wafer-making machine the combination of traveling tongs, an automatic batter-feeding device having areciprocating feed-nozzle, and cams or projections moving with the tongs and operating the feeding device.

4. In a Wafer-making machine the combination of traveling tongs, an automatic batter-feeding device having a reciprocating feed-nozzle, a guide for said nozzle, means for returning the nozzle quickly, and cams or projections moving with the tongs and operating the feeding device.

5. In a Wafer-making machine the combination with traveling tongs, of an automatic batter-feeding device having a reciprocating nozzle, cams or projections moving with the tongs and operating the feeding device, a guide for the nozzle, means for returning the nozzle quickly and an inclined cam-plate H second inclined cam H and a traveling lever J J controlling and operat ing the reciprocating nozzle, substantially as set forth.

6. In a Wafer-making machine the combi nation with traveling tongsj of a trimming device carried by the tongs and means for automatically operating such device at cer-' tain periods.

7. In a wafer-making machine the combination with traveling tongs of a trimming device comprising knives L, levers L eccentrics L and a pinion L and racks L L L operating said pinion, substantial1y as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

. GEORGE SAMUEL BAKER.

Witnesses:

WALTER J. SKERTEN, GEO. J. W. BURCHLIN. 

